Here is my situation. I want to install 3/4" cumaru over a 250sf dry slab on grade. The slab was constructed with the house in 1977 and did not show any moisture with the "plastic sheeting" type test. It reads 4-5% with a prong style moisture meter. Good grading and drainage surrounding the house.
Here is what I have already done: I had it in my head that I needed to glue and ramset down plywood, then nail to that. I applied what I thought was a paint on vapor barrier (3 coats), then glued and ramset 2 layers of 3/8" plywood over that. I needed the 2 layers to level some of the high spots in the floor. Then I installed asphalt laminated paper underlayment (perm <1)over that, and I was going to cleat nail the 3/4" cumaru over the top.
I have had the plywood down for about 1 month, and in the last 2 weeks the moisture levels have gone from 9% to 11% average. I did some research and found out that the paint on vapor barrier I applied was really just a waterproofer (drylok) with a perm rating of about 3.
So my question is, what should I do? I could (a) install the floor and see what happens, (b) sheet the top of the plywood with 6mil poly, or (c) tear it all up and apply a proper vapor barrier, then reinstall. I really don't want to tear it up, as it is glued down pretty good and will be a real bugger. It is my own house, so if the floor misbehaves, I am the only one to blame.
Also, the cumaru (prefinished) is 5" wide and has been acclimating for 3 weeks. It is sitting at about 9% moisture right now.
Flooring Community, what are your thoughts?
edited by tfruiht on 4/18/2014
Here is what I have already done: I had it in my head that I needed to glue and ramset down plywood, then nail to that. I applied what I thought was a paint on vapor barrier (3 coats), then glued and ramset 2 layers of 3/8" plywood over that. I needed the 2 layers to level some of the high spots in the floor. Then I installed asphalt laminated paper underlayment (perm <1)over that, and I was going to cleat nail the 3/4" cumaru over the top.
I have had the plywood down for about 1 month, and in the last 2 weeks the moisture levels have gone from 9% to 11% average. I did some research and found out that the paint on vapor barrier I applied was really just a waterproofer (drylok) with a perm rating of about 3.
So my question is, what should I do? I could (a) install the floor and see what happens, (b) sheet the top of the plywood with 6mil poly, or (c) tear it all up and apply a proper vapor barrier, then reinstall. I really don't want to tear it up, as it is glued down pretty good and will be a real bugger. It is my own house, so if the floor misbehaves, I am the only one to blame.
Also, the cumaru (prefinished) is 5" wide and has been acclimating for 3 weeks. It is sitting at about 9% moisture right now.
Flooring Community, what are your thoughts?
edited by tfruiht on 4/18/2014